Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Dragon's Prince ❯ Chapter 7

The dining hall was elegantly lit by countless candles, their light reflecting from the crystal wine goblets adorned with the crest of the Une royal family. The Queen was not one for finery, but felt devoted to following protocol and at least wearing her golden circlet of a crown. Given the choice, she would prefer the leathers and helm of a warrior to this stuffed-shirt and gossamer nightmare of a sovereignty. But she was Queen now, and there was no war to fight anyway. Dining in a war helm with a claymore strapped to her back would have made her look absolutely ridiculous!

Her eyes constantly fluttered to her last-minute guest and his entourage whenever she could spare the glance. They were a refreshing change from Queen Relena and her gaggle of ill-fated suitors, and he was far more pleasing to look at than the grizzled King Noventa. Lord Treize of the Kushrenada nobles was a beautiful man, and his silver-trimmed indigo ensemble made him even more godlike. With a blush she realized that she would be willing to submit everything she'd ever commandeered in her life if only for his perfect lips to grace her own misshapen ones with a soft kiss…

Something startled him from his next sip of wine, and with a smile the noble turned to his companions. The long-haired one, Duo, was rubbing some of the sting out of his freshly-slapped hand and whining rather adorably. A glare from the older boy beside him…or was it her…turned to one of pleading to the heavens for guidance. Lord Treize laughed softly and cupped his hand over Duo's, laying the injured hand in the youth's lap and feeding him a blackberry to appease. Une couldn't help but envy Duo…being spoilt and hand-fed by such a divine creature…

BOOM!

The rolling conversation paused in recognition of the Dragon's intrusion, and an excited buzz filled the air as the Chinese male stalked to a vacant seat. His black silk tunic flapped with each step, and his red-dragon-embroidered slippers made barely a whisper on the cold stones of the floor. He only hoped his breath did not sound labored to those around him, or that anyone could see just how much effort it was taking him to keep up such a gait. He could not be weak! He would not be weak!

"Lord Chang," Une breathed, masking her surprise cleverly. "I see your health has much improved. PAGE! Fetch Lord Chang a suitable chair and have a goblet of wine brought for him!"

"Majesty," Wufei bowed deeply, trying to regain control of his breathing and not pant out his formal greeting. "I would be honored…to join you this evening…"

The chair was fetched and set beside the Queen, and Wufei tried to hide his relief as he sank down into it. He feigned a sip of wine, sucking greedily at the lip of the cup and draining it in one swallow. Yes, the wine would go to his head very soon, and then he could be more relaxed and uninhibited…

He'd only managed a bit of broth and the heel of thick black bread lightly smeared with butter that entire banquet. His appetite had been poor enough, guzzling his first wine on an empty stomach, and knowing his tutor and friend sat beside him as a tangible admonishment to his folly seemed to kill any hope of feeding his stomach tonight.

He had to stifle a relieved sigh when the many platters of food were removed and the dancing began. Now was his chance to slip aside for a bit of air in the courtyards, to pluck up his courage as well as clear his head. He'd foolishly thought the wine not strong enough, and as a result ordered for a tankard of ale to be brought for him. One had been enough to knock him for a loop, but his pride insisted he finish a second to appear at full strength.

Carefully he schooled his body to rise from his seat and stride to the courtyard, but a hand beneath his arm caused him to look up to Zechs. The blonde was pale with suppressed rage, his cheeks flushed with a temper that begged to be unleashed. "You've taken this farce too far, my friend," he growled in the Chinese male's ear, only loudly enough for Wufei to hear.

But Wufei hadn't even heard that. His eyes focused upon the figure speaking to Queen Une, and his heart gave an embarrassing flutter. It was him! Lord Treize had come tonight! Temporarily he'd forgotten that Treize and his youths had been invited last minute, but all the same, Wufei couldn't help but blush slightly. He watched Treize's lips as they gave an eloquent speech about the food and Une's hospitality, but what set the Dragon's heart to pounding was the fact that almost every other word Treize spoke was `Wufei'. <Does…is it true? Has he shown concern for me?>

The wine and ale prevented his usual reaction of righteous indignation, but showed his deeper, truer feelings as the smile curled upon his almond lips. Suddenly he felt ashamed for acting the part of a spoilt brat and forcing himself into a role he was not fit to play this night, and was nearly compelled to apologize to Zechs.

The apology died in his throat when Duo bounced up and threw open his arms to hug Wufei. The pixie's smiling mouth opened to say something, but whatever it was never came to be spoken. It was all so fast, and yet time stood still for it. Zechs's free hand went to his dagger as his elbow knocked Duo away, sending the youth falling backwards in an awkward flap of arms. Heero leapt to catch him and drew his dagger, pointing the tip at the curve of Zechs's Adam's apple. Beneath the brunette's chin, Zechs's stiletto blade was willing a tiny drop of blood to ooze from a tiny puncture.

Wufei angrily thrust out a hand to close over Zechs's and force the dagger down, but his hand missed and grasped the blade instead, slashing his fingers and palm as he turned the blade aside. Heero lowered his own weapon as his lord stormed forward, hands upraised in surrender.

"Peace! Peace!" he shouted over the din, his commanding tones willing the gathered into silence. "We have come to dine in peace this night, and discontent is the good Queen's thanks?! Away with those weapons! Good Sir, has my man done you insult?"

Zechs thrust Wufei back into his seat and threw the bloodied blade onto the table carelessly. His passions were up, and this meant no man would escape it unscathed. "Aye, he has! Just as you have done me insult by bringing harm upon my companion! I therefore propose that I name the specifications of our duel, since it was your man who drew first blade!"

Treize's eyes narrowed at first, but it was not enough to conceal his amusement. "I am afraid I must disagree, good Sir. It has been both of us who have insulted Her Majesty so grievously by crashing her banquet. Good Majesty, what do you propose?"

Une looked to Zechs, then Treize, and then to her chamberlain to make her decree. Drawing herself to her full height, she waved her hand in a graceful arc over the entire banquet hall. "You all shall bear witness! It is my decree that these men shall fight to regain their honor…in a duel of ballads!" There was a pause now, for the din had grown quite loud in so little a time as the blink of an eye. When it had quieted once more, Une spoke again. "Within three nights from now, there shall be a duel of ballads against our Champion Zechs Marquise and the noble Lord Treize of the Kushrenada noble family. I shall judge the ballads myself, and will grant the victor the prize he most desires…short of my crown and my kingdom, of course."

The lords and ladies bowed solemnly and chanted in unison, "We witness, Queen Une."

"I therefore shall retire to my chambers this night and draw up the rules and regulations of this duel. We shall conclude this banquet upon the conclusion of the duel." With that, Une bid her men to follow and made a graceful exit from the hall, leaving the lords and ladies to file out as they would. Treize gathered Duo and Heero to his side and bade Wufei a silent farewell before taking his leave, regret causing his head to hang as he sped back to the inn at which he stayed.

The hall was empty now, save for the servants, Zechs, and Wufei. The blonde reached out to help Wufei to his feet and then to his rooms, but the Dragon only coldly glared and willed himself to rise. "Leave me," he snarled coldly at the bewildered tutor. "I have no time for fools and hot-heads."

Zechs stepped back a pace in shock, then felt his anger return. "How dare you speak to me so?!" he barked, spinning Wufei around and gripping his shoulder in a bruising hold. "I have sought to defend your honor, even in your state of inebriation! You have made more a fool of yourself tonight than any man in his lifetime!"

"UNHAND ME!" Wufei wriggled free of Zechs, cradling his shoulder carefully, and in a blur was running from the hall. As drunk has he was, his heartache was enough to sharpen his mind, and this was how he navigated to his rooms and collapsed onto his bed to collect himself and shed his bitter tears.